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bisthesu's review
4.0
This is an acutely personal account of Scott's family, specifically dealing with the poor relationship he had with his father. It reads mainly as a historical account, with a few commentaries of his feelings and conclusions regarding the events.
It was so personal, I often felt like I was getting too much information. I projected onto those involved, fearing they might be uncomfortable with how much was revealed. However, I also felt a deep kinship with Scott, having a similarly poor or nonexistent relationship with my own father. I agree with his sentiment on Kickstarter, that we would all benefit if more sons wrote about their relationship and experiences with their father.
At times it was painful to be reminded of unpleasant memories from my own life. That could be a part of the healing process, but it could be too much for someone in the middle of dealing with difficult issues with their father.
I appreciated the pointers to songs and movies that helped clarify or soothe in some way, like Bruce Springsteen's My Father's House and the movies Magnolia and The Return. I listened to the song and plan to watch both movies in the hopes of finding solace or greater understanding. I was also grateful for the phrase he learned, "This is something that happens."
I selfishly wished for more conclusions or understanding rather than the objective events that transpired. I also found the infrequency of chapters (the first chapter is nearly 80 pages long) to be a minor nuisance.
We both traveled the same road, but I can't tell who is ahead or if it even matters. It may not even be the type of road that has a beginning and an end. But I am better for having read about the journey.
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